An inspired batting performance from Matt Dewar helped Selborne College claim a thrilling seven-wicket win over Hudson Park High School in the final of the 2018 Border Coca-Cola Schools tournament at Hudson Park yesterday afternoon.
Set a tricky 128 for victory, Selborne got off to a poor start, before a match defining 70-run partnership between Dewar and Ethan Boucher (22) set Selborne on their way to the win.
Dewar finished unbeaten on 62 off 45 balls having struck four boundaries and with him picking up a wicket with the ball as well it was a superb all-round performance.
“It was fantastic, Matt Dewar batted phenomenally, and just a great effort from the guys,” said Selborne coach Ryan Koekemoer. “We worked hard and the guys really pulled through which was great to see.
“We got away with it a little but, they got off to a good start and we pulled it back well in the end.
“Ethan Boucher has been batting brilliantly and he showed his big-match temperament once again.”
The chase began with Hudson strike bowler Luvo Ntsekwa claiming the early wickets of Matthew Ferrant (4) and Thomas Bursey (7) as Selborne slipped to 12/2.
Dewar and Boucher then took some time to get in but they targeted the sixth over bowled by Akhona Mnyaka, hitting 15 runs off it to get going and they never looked back.
Boucher was caught off the bowling of Luke Dallas with Selborne on 82/3, but Stuart Els then joined Dewar and hit a run-a-ball 21 to help Selborne over the line.
Batting first Hudson managed a competitive total of 127/7 at the end of their 20 overs.
This was down to a superb opening partnership between Dallas and Akhanya Rebe, who shared 63 runs for the first wicket.
This came in the first eight overs with Dallas the aggressor, while Rebe rotated the strike well, before Selborne all-rounder Dewar broke the stand, as Dallas feathered the ball behind to keeper Boucher to fall for 39 off 36 balls (7x4).
Raheem Moonieyan (1) then didn't last long as he was caught going for a big shot by Matthew Fourie off the bowling of Tristan Alexander with the score 64/2.
Nonelela Yikha then came in to join Rebe and they steadied the ship with a patient 24-run stand before Rebe was caught off the bowing of Fourie for 22 off 34 balls.
SA U19 bowler Mnyaka then came in and watched an entertaining show as Yikha went on the attack. Having taken 19 balls to score 14 runs, Yikha decided to up the rate in the final overs, striking some nice boundaries and hammering two handsome sixes as he blasted Hudson past the 100-run mark.
In the penultimate over a disastrous misunderstanding then saw Yikha run out for a 32-ball 41 (4x4; 2x6) with the score on 124/4.
The final over then saw three wickets fall as Aiden van Wyk finished off a good spell of bowling having Babalo Nokele stumped and Marc Hein caught, both for ducks, while the hattrick ball was then dropped in the deep. Off the last ball Mnyaka (7) was run out, with Hudson on 127.
Scintillating Dewar blasts Selborne to the Promised Land
Set a tricky 128 for victory, Selborne got off to a poor start, before a match defining 70-run partnership between Dewar and Ethan Boucher (22) set Selborne on their way to the win.
Dewar finished unbeaten on 62 off 45 balls having struck four boundaries and with him picking up a wicket with the ball as well it was a superb all-round performance.
“It was fantastic, Matt Dewar batted phenomenally, and just a great effort from the guys,” said Selborne coach Ryan Koekemoer. “We worked hard and the guys really pulled through which was great to see.
“We got away with it a little but, they got off to a good start and we pulled it back well in the end.
“Ethan Boucher has been batting brilliantly and he showed his big-match temperament once again.”
The chase began with Hudson strike bowler Luvo Ntsekwa claiming the early wickets of Matthew Ferrant (4) and Thomas Bursey (7) as Selborne slipped to 12/2.
Dewar and Boucher then took some time to get in but they targeted the sixth over bowled by Akhona Mnyaka, hitting 15 runs off it to get going and they never looked back.
Boucher was caught off the bowling of Luke Dallas with Selborne on 82/3, but Stuart Els then joined Dewar and hit a run-a-ball 21 to help Selborne over the line.
Batting first Hudson managed a competitive total of 127/7 at the end of their 20 overs.
This was down to a superb opening partnership between Dallas and Akhanya Rebe, who shared 63 runs for the first wicket.
This came in the first eight overs with Dallas the aggressor, while Rebe rotated the strike well, before Selborne all-rounder Dewar broke the stand, as Dallas feathered the ball behind to keeper Boucher to fall for 39 off 36 balls (7x4).
Raheem Moonieyan (1) then didn't last long as he was caught going for a big shot by Matthew Fourie off the bowling of Tristan Alexander with the score 64/2.
Nonelela Yikha then came in to join Rebe and they steadied the ship with a patient 24-run stand before Rebe was caught off the bowing of Fourie for 22 off 34 balls.
SA U19 bowler Mnyaka then came in and watched an entertaining show as Yikha went on the attack. Having taken 19 balls to score 14 runs, Yikha decided to up the rate in the final overs, striking some nice boundaries and hammering two handsome sixes as he blasted Hudson past the 100-run mark.
In the penultimate over a disastrous misunderstanding then saw Yikha run out for a 32-ball 41 (4x4; 2x6) with the score on 124/4.
The final over then saw three wickets fall as Aiden van Wyk finished off a good spell of bowling having Babalo Nokele stumped and Marc Hein caught, both for ducks, while the hattrick ball was then dropped in the deep. Off the last ball Mnyaka (7) was run out, with Hudson on 127.
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